Placing utility lines underground along a one-block stretch of a scenic drive in Lake Elsinore may not seem like a big deal.

Yet, the Lakeshore Drive project is an example of how the city is striving to improve the image of its namesake lake and the shoreline piece by piece.

“You get a better aesthetic and it unobstructs views,” City Councilman Steve Manos said of the effort. “That’s pretty much what we’re looking to accomplish on Lakeshore — safer surroundings and better views. The undergrounding is just the tip of the iceberg as far as that goes.”

For nearly two miles, Lakeshore parallels the northeastern shore, offering picturesque views and public access. It is the gateway to Seaport Boat Launch and Elm Grove Beach near downtown and fishing spots farther northwest, including the highly popular Whiskers Beach.

Much of the street is lined by Canary Island date palms, marred by the less eye-fetching utility poles and power lines. Such infrastructure was installed decades ago before builders were required to install them underneath streets.

The state Public Utility Commission sets aside funding for cities and counties to help them relocate existing lines underground, but the money doesn’t stretch very far given the high cost of such projects.

With its share of the money, city leaders agreed to bury the lines along Lakeshore between Chaney Street to the north and the junction to the south where West Graham Avenue and Mohr Street terminate at Lakeshore.

About $1.3 million is budgeted for the project, which should be completed within a year from now, Southern California Edison spokesman Jeremy Goldman said. It’s taken nearly two years of planning and designing to get to the point of launching construction, which is now under way.

Meanwhile, the work is requiring through-traffic to be detoured. The section under construction also includes the entrance to the recently completed Whiskers parking lot and access ramp, one of the city’s lake enhancement projects.

The biggest of those improvements in recent years was the installation of the La Laguna Resort and Boat Launch. That provided a much bigger, modern ramp, with plenty of parking and sprawling beaches. The city’s Community Services Department is now working on a plan to renovate the campgrounds accompanying the waterfront venue, the site of frequent events and festivals.

Ultimately, Manos said, the city is looking at the possibility of re-engineering Southern California’s largest natural, freshwater lake to make it more inviting as well as healthier.

“I think everyone, including my colleagues, is interested in making the lake blue and stable,” he said.